Time to change Hiro's plan?

[Gerard]

Four years ago I took this tree to a workshop with Hirotoshi Saitoh, it was my first ever workshop.

bonsai hiro July 06 83.jpg

bonsai hiro July 06 84.jpg

bonsai hiro July 06 85.jpg

IMG_0165.jpg

I have been unhappy with the first branch on the left for some time, I feel that it interferes with the flow of the "daughter tree" and that the whole composition would benefit from some space on the left. So I am considering removing this branch.

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Any comments, thoughts virts most welcome

[Jarrod]

Yeah I would remove it, too cluttered for my liking. Also you should wire it all and put some definition in the branches, and remove the "toparary" top that's on it. It has come alon really really well though. Well done!

[Pup]

Gerard looking at Hiros drawing, I see that branch coming straight out, from the bend. That way it does not, conflict with the Daughter.
I would wire it out first, before cutting that way, I am sure you will see, what I think Hiro meant, and I am trying to say.

Cheers Pup

[Gerard]

Thanks Jarrod and Pup,
You are right it is time for a thin out and rewire, I have just done my avatar tree, which took many hours and am now ready to get stuck into this one.

[bodhidharma]

Yep Gerard it is definitely time for a thin out and rewire before considering anything else. Is it not amazing how the growth sneaks up on you without you realizing it. It looks great and you feed and water and it looks better and then..one day..you notice something is wrong with your tree. It has become a bush It gets me every time when it happens.

[thuynguyen001]

Would you consider turning it into a jin? Just a possibility.
Cheers.
Thuy.

[Gerard]

Bodhi, you are so right.
The tree starts to look OK so we stop pinching and enjoy how it looks and next minute it starts to lose shape.

Would you consider turning it into a jin? Just a possibility.
Cheers.[/quote]

Thanks for your comments Thuy I would definitely keep a small jin.

I have thinned and wired the tree yesterday and still have the same dilemna, as Pup suggested I have raised the branch in question

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[bodhidharma]

Let me add to the consternation that you have with this tree Gerard Here is my thinking. The branch causing your dilemma, remove it or jin.. the lowest right hand branch, remove it..the one that now becomes the lowest right hand branch, grow it longer and down more to replace the foliage lost on the right hand side. where are the virt artists when you need em. Radical, maybe, but it could open up the tree more and put more focus on the second trunk.

[nealweb]

Its good you attempted wiring it up first but it looks WAY better in the second pic, when that branch is removed and the second tree really stands out. In a 2D photo it looks HEAPS better anyway. I vote to remove it, leaving a small jin maybe

[Gerard]

Let me add to the consternation that you have with this tree Gerard Here is my thinking. The branch causing your dilemma, remove it or jin.. the lowest right hand branch, remove it..the one that now becomes the lowest right hand branch, grow it longer and down more to replace the foliage lost on the right hand side. where are the virt artists when you need em. Radical, maybe, but it could open up the tree more and put more focus on the second trunk.

Virt 1.jpg

Is this what you were thinking?

[nealweb]

Hey that looks good. And when i scroll back up to Hiro's sketch the first right hand branch does appear close to half way up the tree and just below the crown of the second trunk so Bhodi's version is probably closer to Hiro's original vision than the current tree.

[bodhidharma]

Let me add to the consternation that you have with this tree Gerard Here is my thinking. The branch causing your dilemma, remove it or jin.. the lowest right hand branch, remove it..the one that now becomes the lowest right hand branch, grow it longer and down more to replace the foliage lost on the right hand side. where are the virt artists when you need em. Radical, maybe, but it could open up the tree more and put more focus on the second trunk.

Virt 1.jpg

Is this what you were thinking?

Gerard you are a genius that is exactly what i was thinking...What do you think though.

[Gerard]

I like the idea very much, I feel I still need to thin the apex a bit and to grow the new branch longer will take a couple of seasons. The current first branch might remain while this is done it would help thicken the trunk while filling the space for the time being.